Through snobbism, Vietnam War and little of left-wing politics.

I can’t call written an article. It will prefer to mark a collection of thoughts.

“Rosebud” of Citizen Kane considered in cinematography as a riddle despite film explains a meaning of it. When author of this movie Orson Welles was asked about answer of secret, he said that no mystery here. Just wanted to laugh on critics. Actor specially made it and planned to do another joke, but he took serious on producer’s words that it will unlucky idea. Those snobbish men always see “hidden symbols” as in Citizen Kane. Welles didn’t like symbols. It’s movie became association of words “the best film ever”. I can’t perceive when any community of serious men choosing one of the best of all of them. For me, it can’t be that one movie is pivotal and when I see lists of directors who were asked to call a ten of the best films. I wouldn’t name even in one genre or category. Also, I can’t accept “magnum opus” conception, which defines that any author can do only one great work. I know many examples and have people were doing masterpieces constantly. It can find from snobs, which from some famous people they’re making icon, which has a special peak place and nobody can better that person. Shakespeare, who mentions from kind of these people, despite his writing talents (however, not in my best list.) in many poems he used historical background (some works Shakespeare just took and even openly rewrote from history volumes calls Holinshed’s Chronicles.). For me real writers are people with imagination. Who haven’t inspiration and their stories and any character came from mind. Of course, if write on unknowing topic, you must learn it first of all. By my opinion, can allow a little fantasy, but never exaggerate.

In seventies Francis Ford Coppola had film by film acclaimed by audience, critics, awards and box-office. The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, which in reality he didn’t wish to do, and Conversation. It was a time when successful director became an independent person, who had access to big budget, equipment and wasn’t get a punishment for out of filming term. Studios trusted to them, but artistic freedom can deprive commonsense. On Apocalypse Now director confirmed, “My film is not a movie. My film is not about Vietnam. It is Vietnam. It’s what it was really like. It was crazy. And the way we made it was very much like the way the Americans were in Vietnam. We were in the jungle. There were too many of us. We had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little, we went insane.” Maybe without torture of filming process in Philippines where for finishing Coppola loaned own estate, but his story is too identical with another acclaimed director – Michael Cimino, who after lucky Thunderbolt and Lightfoot and Vietnam War surrealism The Deer Hunter made similar as Apocalypse Now film Heaven’s Gate. Long historical inaccurate epic made with delays, unlimited budget and without commonsense. In similarities of both stories is only one difference. Despite all “storms”, which for film usually causes fail, Francis Ford Coppola’s work was again successful for people and almost in five times paid back titanic 31.5 million dollars budget in box-office (today is more $147 million.) when Heaven’s Gate with 44 million dollars immediately left theatres. Not far time ago I saw The Deer Hunter, which I can compare with Heaven’s Gate for aforementioned fictionalized of history and overdramatizing beyond of logic, what Cimino usually did. Prison camp in this film is a lonely house with one cage for prisoners what absolutely doesn’t fit for a detention place. I could believe that Vietcong soldiers pushed jailed US troops to play in Russian roulette, but I checked and wasn’t a confirming record. Theoretically, I can imagine it in prisons, but in civil life of Vietnam it’s a fantastic. Cimino’s directing was predictable for me. Easy guessed the next move before it happen. Less common with Vietnam War, but not offensive to veterans as Apocalypse Now. I with beauty was watching first third of film: raised on dawn sun helicopters under “Ride of the Valkyries” gives a wonderful association from North mythology and Robert Duvall’s character with “I love the smell of napalm in the morning”. Movie was a pleasure until boat’s dispatch. Further narrative turned to dislike film and was knowing of facts columned my position. Basis of this flick “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad had in my edition ninety pages, but I didn’t finish and left fifteen pages, because author’s style is impossible for reading. Before it, I had acquaintance with his short “Youth”, which is interesting in idea, but written in same terrible style unreadable few pages was painful for me too. On every turned sheet of “Heart of Darkness” was appearing a character without name and marked only in occupation, who was executing his function on a next page and then disappear forever from story. Apocalypse Now has a small connection with original plot, but it doesn’t mean. No one of true veterans confirm with actual Vietnam War. Film is a fantastical imagination of it with entertaining soldiers, flare shooting and drug smoking. Nobody, who was on boat, was smoking weeds. Drugs really used crew members, which, of course, had unstoppable drunk of alcohol. Notoriety representors were Dennis Hopper and Martin Sheen. Once Coppola came to drug addicted Hopper (who then turned to heroin possession young Laurence Fishburne.) and asked “What can I do to help you play this role?” Actor answered “About an ounce of cocaine.” Terrible conditions, which caused local diseases, and don’t behave for yourself could cost life for Sheen with whom happened a heart attack. Director was angered and say then “Even if he dies, he’s not dead until I say so.” Scene with mirror shattering by really drunk Sheen was in every aspect improvising, which was a lot in the filming process. Marlon Brando, performer of colonel Kurtz, was an actor who didn’t like to act and had only love to get money for this. His influence made people afraid to argue and say against his will despite his obnoxious behavior on the set. Arrived Brando was strongly overweight and didn’t fit to a thin and bony Kurtz. Started filming of scenes with him, disclosed that actor was drunk, he didn’t read “Heart of Darkness” and didn’t learn lines. Brando hurdled production in setting of conditions. Advanced one million dollar wasn’t a relief. Actor threated to quit and keep money. His achieved requirements were be dressed in black and filmed in dark places. Brando didn’t like his character’s name and preferred to call Leighley. Coppola never disputed with Brando and put this name in screenplay, but when actor read a book, he changed his mind and in post-production dubbed to original Kurtz. From words of Coppola, Brando could just start to talk a first what came in his thoughts for a long time on many topics as, he called example, terminates. Planned on three weeks scenes were empty spent of time with uncontrollable Brando extended on another three weeks. His mumbling imitation of philosophy was sixteen-minute self-improvised talk, who didn’t try to stop as usual. Long speech was shorten to two minutes. As said director, it were many scenarios on film ending, but no one realized, because Brando’s complexion didn’t fit to no one. Camera always filmed upper part of actor that hid his overweight. Kurtz just was silently killed between of senseless scene of real buffalo murder, which director was witness actually. Knowing by myself, some things from first impression of saw or imagined can make you reckless, when you’re thinking it will match. Later, when relief and look sober on own work, you understand a needless in committed. I don’t think it will a mistake that “murder scene” was compilation of reckless, suffers and Force Majeure. One more fact, real corpses planned to be used for filming until revealed by Philippine police that deliverer unearthed them from graves. Digger was arrested and corpses were sent to dumpster, when for scene hired living people.   

Apocalypse Now wasn’t become a fail, but it happened for Francis Ford Coppola when he made next One from the Heart. This musical romantic comedy cost 26 million dollars and grossed 636,796 dollars in the United States. Most of money were spent on recreation of biggest part of Las Vegas airport, which was using for short scene. Director was paying debts (The Godfather Part III he took for these reasons.) until nineties. Box-office bombs of One from the Heart and Heaven’s Gate amplified control from studios. Happened changes didn’t let art to disappear after this. About Vietnam War were made authentic and first of all excellent movies. Full Metal Jacket based on book of veteran of this war Gustav Hasford and Platoon by Oliver Stone, who wasn’t Kremlin agent and his left views didn’t exalt in his works then, as a person participated in Vietnam War could do fiction only from hate, but it wasn’t.

Nothing relatable with accuracy Apocalypse Now got eight Oscar nomination and one was for the best picture. John Rambo’s speech in First Blood is the precise resume about war. I don't know another similar film and only can compare with a great computer game Men of Valor. Vietnam War is still dividing Americans. Unfortunately, truth isn’t in dominance. Bad name given by journalists and left-wing movements, but huge achievement in split did disinformation machine of the Soviet Union. First Blood is flawless in depiction of war and veteran after that in the great story, which hadn’t any Oscar nomination. I didn’t find information about participation in Academy Awards, but movie wasn’t in sympathies of critics. I don’t lean to them and to any awards. I liked a time when was no Internet and meeting people were founding a common likeable movie. When world web entered in masses, overall rating on film sites had a low mark on the favorite film, what influenced. Internet is a wonderful thing, but I don’t like when people seriously look on ratings. Everybody must have own opinion.